Matheson Collection > Folk tales and fairy lore in Gaelic and English

BLACK -HAIRED JOHN OF LEWIS, SAILOR.
A fisher's son was Black-haired John. When he was a
little boy his father was drowned, and after that he
was brought up by his uncle. He lived a short dis-
tance from the Great Anchorage (now Stornoway), in
Lewis. There he used to fish, and see the vessels
that frequented the Anchorage. He thus took a great
liking for the sea, and at length no trade would please
him but to be a sailor.
On a certain evening he saw a fine ship coming into
the haven under full sail, and it seemed to him that
never before had he seen a more beautiful sight. He
sprang into his own little fishing boat, and before the
ship's anchor reached the bottom, he was on board of her.
He waited until her sails had been furled, and then
he ascended one of the masts, and began to run out
and in on the yards, and to climb the ropes as
he saw the sailors do. The Captain noticed how bold
and active he was, and as soon as he descended from
the mast, he asked him whether he would like to be a
sailor ? Black John answered that there was nothing
in the world he would like better.
" Go home, then," said the Captain, " and get thy
father's leave, and to-morrow come ye here together;
and if ye and I agree, I will let thee go away with
me and learn sailoring." Black John said that his